Members Of Same Sex Research Articles

Mismatches in resident and stranger serotonin transporter genotypes lead to escalated aggression, and the target for aggression is mediated by sex differences in male and female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

A variety of studies show that the s-allele of the serotonin transporter genotype (5-HTT) is related to aggression. However, influences of sex and 5-HTT genotype of both subject and opponent have not received as much attention in aggression research. Using a nonhuman primate model, the present study explores differences in rates of aggression exhibited by 201 group-housed male and female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta; 122 females; 79 males) exposed to an unfamiliar age- and sex-matched stranger while in the presence of other same-sex members of their social group. The study also assesses whether the rates of aggression increase when the home-cage resident, the unfamiliar stimulus animal, or both possess the short (s) allele of the 5-HTT. Results showed that, when compared to females, males exhibited higher rates of physical aggression toward the stranger, and when both the male resident and the male stranger possessed the s-allele, rates of physical aggression toward the stranger increased five-fold. Resident females also engaged in higher rates of physical aggression when they possessed the s-allele, although unlike the males, their physical aggression was directed toward familiar same-sex members of their social group. The findings of this study indicate that rates of physical aggression are modulated by 5-HTT resident and stranger suggest a role of sexual competition in the phenotype of the 5-HTT genotype. Importantly, when two males with impulse deficits, as a function of the s-allele, are placed together, rates of violence exhibited by the dyad escalate substantially.

Heterozygous FXII deficiency is not associated with an increased incidence of thrombotic events: Results of a long term study

ObjectiveTo investigate the incidence of thrombotic events in patients heterozygous for FXII deficiency during a long observation period. Patients and methods103 heterozygotes for FXII deficiency, 49 female and 54 male were followed for 19.6 years (range 5–32 years). As controls 103 unaffected family members of same sex and similar age (±5 years) were enrolled. The thrombotic end points were: myocardial infarction, deep vein thrombosis and ischemic stroke.The mean Factor XII level in the heterozygotes was 48.5%: range (35–60%) that of control was 96.5% (range 70–155%).The heterozygotes showed one myocardial infarction, two deep vein thromboses and no ischemic stroke. The unaffected family members observed 2 myocardial infarctions, one deep vein thrombosis and one ischemic stroke.There were seven deliveries (five women) among the heterozygotes and six (five women) among the controls. Furthermore, four and five surgical procedures were carried out in the patient and in the control group, respectively.Immobilization times for surgical procedures or pregnancies were 50 days and 57 days for the heterozygotes and the unaffected family members, respectively.Heterozygotes for FXII deficiency did not show an increased incidence of thrombotic events as compared with unaffected family members during a long follow up.

Prediction of Group Performance: The Interplay of Individual Performance, Interpersonal Attraction, and Interpersonal Behavior

On the basis of the input-process-output model, the present research examined how individual performance, interpersonal attraction, and interpersonal behavior affect group performance in a problem-solving task. 164 participants were assigned to 41 groups, each consisting of four same-sex members. Participants completed a measure of interpersonal attraction and individually solved the established moon-landing task. Afterwards, all group members worked together to find a common solution for this task. Four interpersonal behaviors were recorded on video while the group interacted (cooperative, communicative, coordinative, and conflict behavior). Two main findings emerged: First, on average, groups performed better than the individuals did alone. Second, individual performance, interpersonal attraction, and directly observed interpersonal behaviors were independent predictors of group performance. Furthermore, we found indications that interpersonal behavior might play a mediating role here. The results and their implications are discussed.

Accuracy and bias in perceptions of conflict style among same-sex and heterosexual couples

Intimates form stable impressions of their romantic partner’s conflict style, which may influence interactions during conflicts and shape expectancies regarding future disagreements. Despite a large body of work comparing relationship outcomes among heterosexual and same-sex couples, research has yet to examine how the validity of these perceptions vary as a function of gender and sexual orientation. The present study examines perceptual accuracy and bias in perceptions of conflict style among same-sex female (Ndyads=215), same-sex male (Ndyads=113), and heterosexual (Ndyads=93) couples. Although members of same-sex and heterosexual couples exhibited some similarity in accuracy and bias in perceptions, a number of compelling differences suggest that the gender and the sexual orientation of a couple shape perceptions of partner conflict style.

Same-Sex Couples and Sustainable Retirement Withdrawal Rates

This paper compares sustainable retirement withdrawal rates for same-sex versus heterosexual couples. Due to convergence of expected longevity for males and females at typical retirement ages, systematic differences between same-sex versus heterosexual couples are slight, ranging from .03% at age 50 to less than .4% at age 85. Therefore, same-sex couples can employ conventional withdrawal rate recommendations with, at most, slight modification. Due to a lack of public data regarding mortality differences based on sexual orientation, differences in mortality expectations between individual members of same-sex and heterosexual couples cannot be explored. Members of same-sex couples, like all retirees, should adjust withdrawal rate expectations periodically to reflect individual conditions.

Acceptance of sexual minorities and the mediating role of social capital on health and well-being among members of same-sex and opposite-sex couples across Europe

Acceptance of sexual minorities and the mediating role of social capital on health and well-being among members of same-sex and opposite-sex couples across Europe

Acceptance of sexual minorities, discrimination, social capital and health and well-being: a cross-European study among members of same-sex and opposite-sex couples.

BackgroundAwareness of health disparities based on sexual orientation has increased in the past decades, and many official public health agencies throughout Europe call for programs addressing the specific needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) individuals. However, the acceptance of LGB individuals varies significantly in different countries, which potentially influences health and well-being in this population. We explored differences in self-rated health and subjective well-being between individuals living in same-sex and opposite-sex couples. We also examined the effects of discrimination and country-level variations in LGB acceptance on health and well-being and the potential mediating role of social capital in these associations.MethodsUsing the 2010 European Social Survey (n = 50,781), 315 individuals living with a same-sex partner were matched and compared with an equal number of individuals living in opposite-sex couples. We performed structural equation modeling analyses to estimate path coefficients, mediations and interactions.ResultsLGB acceptance was significantly related to better self-rated health and subjective well-being among all individuals, and these associations were partially mediated by individual social capital. No differences in these associations were found between individuals living in same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Sexuality-based discrimination had an additional significantly negative effect on self-related health and subjective well-being.ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest a negative association between exposure to discrimination based on sexual orientation and both health and well-being of individuals living in same-sex couples. Members of same-sex couples and opposite-sex couples alike may benefit from living in societies with a high level of LGB acceptance to promote better health and well-being.

Sexual selection and the role of intrafamily relations in the realization of the adaptive potential in mammals

The article discusses the morphophysiological and behavioral “congruences” that determine relationships in family triads between mother and offspring, females and males, and same-sex members. The role of congruences in the realization of reproductive potential and the development of adaptability in offspring is analyzed and discussed with respect to data obtained in small Siberian rodents through natural monitoring and laboratory investigation.

It's Better to Give Than to Receive: The Role of Social Support, Trust, and Participation on Health-Related Social Networking Sites

Nearly 60% of American adults and 80% of Internet users have sought health information online. Moreover, Internet users are no longer solely passive consumers of online health content; they are active producers as well. Social media, such as social networking sites, are increasingly being used as online venues for the exchange of health-related information and advice. However, little is known about how participation on health-related social networking sites affects users. Research has shown that women participate more on social networking sites and social networks are more influential among same-sex members. Therefore, this study examined how participation on a social networking site about pregnancy influenced members' health-related attitudes and behaviors. The authors surveyed 114 pregnant members of 8 popular pregnancy-related sites. Analyses revealed that time spent on the sites was less predictive of health-related outcomes than more qualitative assessments such as trust in the sites. Furthermore, providing support was associated with the most outcomes, including seeking more information from additional sources and following recommendations posted on the sites. The implications of these findings, as well as directions for future research, are discussed.

Intergroup intrasexual competition: Reactions towards outgroup members as romantic rivals

Mating rivalry is not only limited to one's ingroup, but also outgroup members can be perceived as potential romantic competitors. In the present research, intergroup intrasexual competition (IIC) is defined as the extent to which individuals react negatively towards potential outgroup same-sex members in the context of mating competition. The authors present a scale developed to assess individual variation in IIC. The scale was administered to five student samples: 78 Dutch, 396 Dutch, 105 German, 306 Latvian and 96 Russian. Through a factor analysis, a long version of the scale was reduced to a 12-item version. A moderate test-retest correlation was established. IIC correlated positively with intrasexual competition, social dominance orientation, possessive jealousy and perceived vulnerability to disease, serving as indicators of convergent validity. As predicted, men scored overall higher than women on the IIC scale, but not in the samples where the participants came from a national minority group (Germans in the Netherlands and Russians in Latvia). Latvian male participants showed the highest level of IIC, followed by the Russians, the Dutch and the Germans.

Variation in flight morphology in a female polymorphic damselfly: intraspecific, intrasexual, and seasonal differences

In aerial animals, flight morphology needs to be designed to allow daily behavioural activities. Within species differences in behaviour can therefore be expected to relate to differences in flight morphology, not only between males and females but also between same-sex members when they use different behavioural strategies. In female polymorphic damselflies, one female morph is considered a male mimic that resembles the male’s body colour and behaviour (andromorph), whereas the other is dissimilar (gynomorph). Here, we questioned whether males, andromorphs, and gynomorphs of the damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum (Charpentier, 1840) differ in flight morphology, with andromorphs being more similar to males than gynomorphs. In addition, we evaluated whether differences in flight morphology are consistent or whether some morphs are more plastic in response to seasonal environmental fluctuations. Most morphometrics showed similar seasonal plasticity for males and both female morphs, which could only partly be explained from allometry. Consistent with high manoeuvrability in flight, males had broader wings and lower wing loading than females. Variation between female morphs was less pronounced, with no consistent differences in length, aspect ratio, total surface, and wing loading. However, we detected morph-specific differences in shape and width, with andromorphs having broader wings than gynomorphs similarly to males.

Work-Family Interface for Same-Sex, Dual-Earner Couples: Implications for Counselors

The author highlights information for career counselors to consider when addressing work-family interface with individuals who are members of same-sex, dual-earner couples or families. D. E. Super's (1990) life-span, life-space theory is the framework used to organize the literature review and discussion of current trends. Issues related to the roles of worker, partner, parent, stepparent, and caregiver are discussed. Suggestions are provided for career counselors. A significant amount of research has been devoted to the study of workfamily interface (for a review, see Perry-Jenkins, Repetti, & Crouter, 2000). The majority of this research has focused on heterosexual dual-earner couples. Although they share some similar experiences with heterosexual, dual-earner couples, same-sex, dual-earner couples encounter additional obstacles and have unique advantages over heterosexual dual-earner couples. The focus of this article is on issues for career counselors to consider when counseling individuals who are members of same-sex, dual-earner couples. Current trends in the workplace are analyzed in relation to counseling with this population, and some potentially useful theoretical approaches and counseling strategies are discussed. Super's (1990) life-span, life-space theory emphasizes the importance of implementing one's self-concept through a combination of life roles. The work role is addressed in the context of other life roles. Individuals experience varying degrees of participation in, valuing of, and commitment to these roles (Super, 1990). In this article, the roles of worker, partner, parent, stepparent, and caregiver for individuals within same-sex, dual-earner couples are discussed. If career counselors can help these individuals learn to combine work and family roles in productive and satisfying ways, counselors have the opportunity to enhance their quality of life significantly. The Work Role In recent years, dramatic workplace changes, such as widespread downsizing and large plant closures, have threatened job security for millions of workers (Crouter & Manke, 1994), and the rate of involuntary job loss has been increasing (Attewell, 1999). Employees who lose their job as a result of downsizing may need to retrain for different jobs, relocate to other geographic locations, or learn to cope with being forced into unemployment. Employees who remain in an organization after major downsizing has occurred often have increased workloads because they must assume responsibility for some of the work that had previously been done by workers who were let go, resulting in job stress and decreased workplace morale. Approximately 30% of displaced workers may be unemployed for a year or more (Attewell, 1999). Longer unemployment can lead to decreased salaries and greater chances of future job displacements (Attewell, 1999) as well as to lower self-esteem. Career counselors must help individuals define their work role in these uncertain and unpredictable times. Counselors can encourage clients to develop a broad range of transferable skills and to keep skills current through continuing education and training. Counselors can also help clients who have lost their jobs learn to cope with the stress of this event and transition toward new positions. Career counselors are also increasingly called on to help clients make career decisions within the context of their family roles as well as in the context of their other major life roles. Members of same-sex, dual-earner couples face additional challenges in this volatile work environment. In most cases, insurance covers only the employed individual and not the family members of same-sex couples. Thus, if one partner loses a job, he or she cannot rely on the other partner's insurance benefits. The financial burden of paying for health care compounds the hardship caused by loss of wages. Another economic issue discussed by Fassinger (1995) is that women's earnings remain consistently lower than men's, and lesbian couples are more likely to have children living with them than are gay male couples. …

Reversible switches between male–male and male–female mating behaviour by male damselflies

For many animal groups, both sexes have been reported to attempt to mate with members of their own sex. Such behaviour challenges theories of sexual selection, which predict optimization of reproductive success. We tested male mate choice between opposite- and same-sex members in the damselfly Ischnura elegans. Binary choice experiments were conducted following exposure periods in insectaries with only males or with both sexes present. We show that switches in choice between the opposite sex and the same sex can be induced and reversed again by changing the social context. We argue that the observed reversibility in male-male- and male-female-directed mating behaviour is maladaptive and a consequence of strong selection on a male's ability to alter choice between different female colour morphs.

Aids and Changing Patterns Of Mortality

We compared changes in all-causes mortality rates, 1986 versus 1980, among members 25 to 44 years of age of demographically defined groups with high AIDS cumulative incidence to the changes among same-age, same-sex members of groups with low AIDS cumulative incidence. Among nonwhite men ages 25-44 residing in northeastern New Jersey (NJ) counties, AIDS cumulative incidence was 1,409 cases per 100,000; all-causes mortality was 413.8 deaths per 100,000 per year in 1980 and increased 74% to 726.6 deaths per 100,000 per year by 1986. In contrast, among white men ages 25-44 residing in other NJ counties, AIDS cumulative incidence was 75 cases per 100,000; all-causes mortality fell slightly from 192.6 deaths per 100,000 per year in 1980 to 189.2 deaths per 100,000 per year in 1986. Among nonwhite women ages 25-44 residing in northeastern NJ counties, AIDS cumulative incidence was 435 cases per 100,000; all-causes mortality was 162.07 deaths per 100,000 per year in 1980 and increased 70% to 276.3 deaths per 100,000 per year by 1986. Among white women ages 25-44 residing in other NJ counties, AIDS cumulative incidence was 9.1 cases per 100,000; all-causes mortality was 90.5 deaths per 100,000 per year in 1980 and fell slightly to 83.0 deaths per 100,000 per year in 1986. A substantial portion of the increased mortality of the groups with high AIDS cumulative incidence resulted from causes that have not been associated with HIV infection.

Sex differences in student dominance behavior in female and male professors' classrooms

Measures of verbal participation and interaction among graduate students provided a comparison of male and female dominance behavior in the classroom, and measures of the contextual effect of sex of professor provided further data on the interrelatedness of sex, status, and dominance behavior. Male students were found to exhibit significantly more aggressiveness (interruptive behavior) than female students in both male and female professors' classes, although significantly more male aggressiveness occurred in female professors' classes than in male professors classes. Male students were significantly more assertive (frequency and duration of speech) in female professors' classes only. In student-to-student interaction, aggressiveness was predominantly exchanged between sexes rather than among same-sex members.

Sex Differences in the Aspects of Team Sport Participation Viewed as Enjoyable

Eight situations dealing with team sports were described to 63 male and 63 female undergraduates. Each situation depicted a team competition involving same-sex members, and subjects were told specifically about the affiliation, acquaintance, and skill of one of the participants. Subjects indicated how enjoyable they viewed each of the eight sports situations, how many years they had participated in team sports, and how much experience they had in team sport competition. The results suggested that men and women similarly enjoyed aspects of team sport participation that improved their chances of winning and interacting cooperatively with friends, but men seemed to enjoy the ego-challenging aspects of team sports more than women.

Euphemisms and Cultural Sensitivity in Tzintzuntzan

The word euphemism comes from Greek euphemismos which in turn derives from euphemizein, meaning use a good or auspicious word for an evil or inauspicious one. Kany, in his excellent book on American-Spanish euphemisms, defines as the means by which a disagreeable, offensive, or fearinstilling matter is designated with an indirect or softer term (1960:v). Euphemisms serve many functions. An important use is to permit discussion in mixed company of topics which, for reasons of delicacy, are thought best not discussed by standard terminologies. Quite apart from sex, euphemisms also facilitate discussion of subjects which cause discomfort or apprehension. Euphemisms may also be used in an inverse sense, to call attention to or to emphasize tabooed topics (Read 1964). Euphemisms are to be differentiated from slang, which may be jargon or cant of members of a particular calling or class of society, or popular and usually ephemeral modes of expression widely used in a society, viewed variously by its speakers as avant garde, clever, imaginative, or amusingly grotesque, but not necessarily offensive, and thus suitable for use in mixed company. Slang may, of course, also be seen as obscene and offcolor, to be used only by members of same sex. The analysis of euphemisms is a highly useful analytic tool for anthropologists, since they point way to sensitive areas of culture, topics which informants may studiously avoid in direct conversation, or which they might deny to be disturbing. In contemporary United States, for example, euphemistic usages emphasize that such topics as old age and death, toilet training and toilet habits, some aspects of illness, excessive use of alcohol, and sex are sensitive or disturbing areas. Elderly people do not become old; they become senior citizens. It is not necessary to